Father Marc Stephens successfully delivered his baby son after watching Do It
Yourself baby birth video clips on YouTube.

When Mr Stephens, 28, decided to "Google" how to deliver a baby, he had no idea that he would be putting the information into practice just hours later when his wife went into labour three weeks early on March 21.

The naval engineer, who already has three children with his wife Jo, also 28, decided to search the internet as she felt some discomfort. Four hours later, when the couple were told that no midwife was available as Jo went into sudden labour, he used his new-found knowledge.

The Leading Air Engineering Technician, who has also learned how to play the guitar and do a Rubik's cube from YouTube videos, decided to take check out the video sharing site's childbirth tips. Amongst the videos he viewed was one entitled "How to Deliver a Baby in a Taxi Cab".

"I spent about half a hour on Google and watched a couple of videos on YouTube. One was a cheesy American video on 'this is how you give birth," he said.

"In reality it didn't actually go into that much detail when she was talking.

"It only lasted a couple of minutes. I remember think that was useful," he joked.

After he finished looking at the sites at about 10.30pm the couple went to bed, only to wake up at about 2.00am with Jo in labour.

When they phoned the hospital Marc and Jo, who has a history of short labours were told that there were no midwives available as they were so busy at the hospital.

The couple had planned on a home birth, but were told to get to hospital as no midwife could be present.

"They said do you want to bring her in or do you want an ambulance," Marc said.

"At this time Jo rushed out of the bathroom and dropped down on all fours.

"As soon as she dropped down I looked down and its head was sticking out.

"I was still on the phone to the midwife.

"When Jo said 'you might deliver this one' as a joke, I didn't believe it.

"You just don't think it's going to happen.

"To be honest I didn't have time to panic.

"My youngest daughter woke up and was standing right behind me watching the whole thing!"

Remarkably full-time mum Jo, who has had her three other children, Zoe, 6, Sophie, 5, and Jasmine, 2, in hospital, said that it was her most relaxed labour.

"I was quite relaxed.

"I wasn't panicking at all. I have to say, out of all my four labours, that was the one I enjoyed the most.

"It was the most relaxed one," she said, before praising her husband's calmness.

"There was no sense of panic in his voice at all.

"It was like it was another day at work for him.

"Mark is one of those people he can put his hand to anything.

"He has learnt quite a few things off YouTube - how to do a Rubik's cube and play the guitar."

After successfully delivering 5lb 5oz Gabriele the paramedics arrived and congratulated Marc on a good job, before the family travelled from their home in Redruth, Cornwall, to the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske, for check-ups.

"The paramedics said 'well done, well done'.

"It's funny, when I got to the maternity ward at Treliske they said 'you can scrub up, we're really busy tonight.' I said 'I think one is enough thanks."

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) both support home birth for women with uncomplicated pregnancies.

They say there is no reason why home birth should not be offered to women at low risk of complications and it may confer considerable benefits for them and their families.

There is also evidence showing that going into labour at home increases a woman's likelihood of a safe birth, with the positive implications that has for her health and that of her baby.